Power door opener

ABSTRACT

A power door opener including an actuator having a housing with an electrically powered actuator shaft that can be extended from a closed to an extended position. In one embodiment, a movable push plate is affixed to the actuator shaft and a fixed push plate is fixed in its position with respect to the housing. In the closed position of the actuator shaft, the fixed and movable push plates are aligned to form a combined edge for insertion into the space between a door and door jamb. The actuator shaft extends to move the movable push plate apart from the fixed push plate to spread the space and release the door from the door jamb. Alternatively, a double ended power door opener is located between opposite door jambs and the extending of the actuator shaft forces the door jambs apart to release the door from the door jamb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a door opener and, more particularly,to a power door opener that allows a user to force open a door withenhanced safety and reduced noise.

In the law enforcement and fire services, first responders arriving atthe destination are often faced with locked doors barring ready accessto a building or room within a building. In the case of firefighters,the increasing use of security locks and metal doors requirefirefighters to carry pry bars, axes, sledge hammers and even hydraulictools to force doors open. As is known, the time required to force adoor open for the firefighter to gain access to a potentially dangerousfire is critical as the danger of injury to a firefighter increases asthe fire is allowed to continue unabated such that the faster thefirefighter can attack the fire, the better the outcome with greatersafety to the firefighter.

In addition, with many fires in a closed room or confined area, the firecan be starving for oxygen and the opening of the door allows air intothe room and the fire tends to blow back in the direction of the opendoor toward the source of the oxygen, thereby putting any personnelpositioned in the doorway at great risk. It is therefore a danger to afireman to be positioned within the doorway of a door as it is beingopened to access a fire within the closed room.

In the case of law enforcement, in addition to the tools use by the firedepartment, law enforcement personnel sometimes use battering rams. Whenthe officers use a battering ram, they can be exposed to danger sincethe user of the battering ram normally must stand in front of the door.This danger is increased if the door is not opened on the first try suchthat any occupants are alerted to the fact of the law enforcementofficers attempting to gain entry into the room and can take measures,possible deadly, to repel any entry into the room by the law enforcementpersonnel.

Another method commonly used to force open a door is by using a manuallypumped hydraulic ram. With the hydraulic ram, the ram is inserted in thespace between the door and the door jamb in the vicinity of the lock andthe hydraulic ram forces the door jamb apart such that the jamb isdisplaced away from the door sufficiently to disengage the lock andallow the door to be opened. With this method, the user is required tohand pump the tool until the door is spread enough to force it open.Again, during the process, the user is exposed to danger from theoccupiers inside the premises.

Accordingly, the use of the hydraulic ram is useful for flush doorswhere the tool can be inserted into the space between the door and thedoor jamb but is extremely difficult to use if the door is flush to theinside leaving a 4-6 inch recess between the outside door sill and thedoor.

In addition the military also has a need to open a locked door ingaining access to a building or room and, using a battering ram orhydraulic tool, there is the addition danger that if the ram does notwork to open the door on the first try, the occupants inside the roomare warned and can react by firing weapons through the door in anattempt to thwart the entry by the military personnel, thereby creatinga dangerous situation to those attempting to gain entry.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have a door opener that couldbe used to force the opening of a door where the use of the door openercould be relatively quiet so as to avoid alerting the occupants of theroom and which also can allow the personnel attempting to open the doorto be physically located aside the door and not directly in front of thedoor at the time the entry is attempted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Now, in accordance with the present invention, there is a power dooropener that has a power actuator that is basically a housing having anactuator shaft movable with respect to the housing between a closedposition and extended position where the actuator shaft is extendedoutwardly from the housing. An electric motor and associated gear traincause the actuator shaft to move between its closed and extendedpositions.

A fixed push plate is affixed to the housing and may be affixed by screwthreads, welding or other means of affixation. The fixed push plate ispreferable cylindrical and surrounds the actuator shaft and has a distalend with a fixed pry member that extends radially outwardly from thefixed push plate. The fixed pry member is preferably tapered inwardly inthe outward direction.

A movable push plate is affixed to the end of the actuator shaft andmoves therewith and also has a movable pry member that extends outwardlytherefrom. When the actuator shaft is in its closed position, the fixedand movably pry members are in alignment and form a tapered inwardlycombined linear edge that is suitable for inserting into the spacebetween a door and a door jamb.

In the method of using the power door opener to force open a door, thecombined edge of the fixed and movable pry members are inserted intothat space between the door and the door jamb and the motor is activatedto move the actuator shaft and the movable push plate outward toprogressively separate the movable push plate from the fixed push plate,thereby increasing the width of the space between the door and the doorjamb sufficiently to disengage the door latch or locking mechanism fromthe door jamb and enable the door to be forced open.

In an alternate embodiment, the power door opener is double ended andthe power actuator has a front side and a rear side. An extension isaffixed to the rear side of the power actuator that extends outwardlyfrom the rear side a predetermine length to its distal end. As such thedouble ended power door opener can span between the two vertical doorjambs with the distal end of extension contacting one of the door jambsand the movable push plate contacting the other door jamb.

Again, as the motor is activated, the actuator shaft moves outwardly toits extended position, thereby increasing the distance between thedistal end of the extension and the movable push plate so as to forcethe door jambs outward sufficiently to disengage the door latch or lockfrom the door jamb and enable the user to force open the door.

With this embodiment there may be more than one extension provided withthe door opener such that the user can interchange one door extensionfor another. The door extensions can be of different lengths such thatthe user can select the appropriate extension based on the width ordistance between the opposite door jambs.

Other features of the present door opener will become more apparent inlight of the following detailed description of a preferred embodimentthereof and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the power dooropener of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power door opener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the use of the FIG. 1-2 embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an alternate exemplary embodiment of thepower door opener of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the power door opener of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the use of the FIG. 4-5 embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an exploded view of a power dooropener 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention. As canbe seen, the power door opener 10 is comprised of a power actuator 12that is commercially available, for example, from Burr Engineering ofBattle Creek, Michigan. The power actuator 12 is basically a housing 14containing a 12 volt motor 16 and the necessary gearing and power trainand an outer cylindrical tube 18 extending outwardly from the housing 14within which there is a movable actuator shaft 20.

In the operation of the conventional power actuator 12, the actuatorshaft 20 can be moved between its closed position as shown in FIG. 1 andan extended position (not shown) where the actuator shaft 20 is extendedlinearly outwardly from the housing 14. Typically, the actuator shaft 20can be moved about 4 inches in its movement between the closed positionand the extended position and that movement is driven in both directionsby the motor 16.

In accordance with the present invention, therefore, a cylindrical fixedpush plate 22 is positioned over the outer cylindrical tube 18 with thefixed push plate 22 having a distal end 24 and proximal end 26. Theproximal end 26 is affixed to the housing 14 by means of screw threads,welding or other affixation method such that the fixed push plate 22 isfirmly affixed to the housing 14 in its position surrounding the outercylindrical tube 18.

At the distal end 24 of the fixed push plate 22, there is a fixed prymember 30 that extends radially outwardly from the fixed push plate 22and the fixed pry member 30 tapers inwardly in the outward directionforming a relatively straight, narrow edge 32 at the outer end thereofAs shown the inward taper is formed on fixed pry member 30 on the sideaway from the distal end 24 of the fixed pry member 30, however, thelocation of the taper may be on either side of the fixed pry member 30or on both sides thereof

A movable push plate 34 is affixed to the outer end of the movableactuator shaft 20 by means such as a pin 36 that extends through asuitable opening 38 in the movable push plate 34 and a corresponding,aligned opening 40 in the outer end of the actuator shaft 20, therebysecuring the movably push plate 34 firmly and securely to the movableactuator shaft 20. The movable push plate 34 has a movable pry member 42that extends outwardly from the movable push plate 34 and, in theexemplary embodiment, the movable pry member 42 is bifurcated, havingtwo prongs 44 with a space 46 therebetween. Both of the prongs 44 taperinwardly in the outer direction and, as with the fixed pry member 30,the taper may be on the side of the prongs 44 facing the power actuator12, facing away from the power actuator 12, or on both sides of theprongs 44.

Turning then to FIG. 2, taken along with FIG. 1, there is shown aperspective view of the power door opener 10 with the actuator shaft 20in the closed position. As can be seen, the fixed pry member 30 alignswith the two prongs 44 of the movably pry member 42 since the fixed prymember 30 occupies the space 46 intermediate those prongs 44. As such,there is formed a continuous edge by the combination and alignment ofthe fixed pry member 30 and the movable pry member 42.

Turning then to FIG. 3, taken along with FIGS. 1 and 2, there is a viewof the present power door opener 10 and illustrating its use to forceopen a door 48. In FIG. 3, the user 50 has inserted the continuous edgeof the power door opener 10 into the narrow space between the door 48and the door jamb 52.

As such, as electricity is fed to the motor 16 of the power actuator 12,the actuator shaft 20 will move outwardly with respect to the housing14. The outward movement of the actuator shaft 20 will create an everincreasing space between the fixed pry member 30 and the movable prymember 42 to force the opening between the door 48 and the door jamb 52to expand to eventually reach a linear gap where the lock or door latchwill be clear of the door jamb 52. At that point, the door 48 can beopened and access gained to the interior of the building or room.

Turning next to FIG. 4, there is shown an exploded view of analternative exemplary embodiment of the present invention and showingthe double ended power door opener 54.

With the FIG. 4 embodiment, the power actuator 12 is basically the sameas that described with respect to FIGS. 1-3 and the same identificationnumbers are with the FIG. 4 embodiment for the same components.

However, in the present embodiment the double ended power door opener 54is designed for forcing open a door by a different method. With the FIG.4 embodiment, the power actuator 12 has a front side 56 and a rear side58. As with the FIG. 1 embodiment the movable actuator shaft 20 extendsout of the front side 56 of the power actuator 12 and there is, again, amovable push plate 34 affixed to the outer end of the actuator shaft 20and has a movable pry member 42.

In this embodiment, however, the movable push plate 34 is reversed suchthat the bifurcated movably pry member 42 faces outwardly and thereforedoes not align with the fixed pry member 30 when the actuator shaft 20is in the closed position. The orientation of the movable push plate 34can be established by its affixation to the outer end of the actuatorshaft 20 with pin 36.

Affixed to the rear side 58 of the power actuator 12 is a long extension60 and the long extension 60 can be affixed to the power actuator 12 bymeans of a pin 62 that passes through an opening 64 in the longextension 60 and also through an opening 66 formed in a connector 68that is affixed to or a part of the power actuator 12.

As such, the long extension 60 is firmly affixed to the rear side 58 ofthe power actuator 12 and there is an extension push plate 70 affixed tothe free end of the long extension 60. Again, the connection between theextension push plate 70 and the long extension 60 may be by means of apin 72 passing through an opening 74 in the extension push plate 62 anda hole 76 formed in the free end of the long extension 60.

The extension push plate 70 also includes an extension pry member 78that, again, may be bifurcated in a similar manner to the movable prymember 42 (FIG. 1). There may also be as short extension 80 that isprovided so that the user can install the short extension 80 as analternative to the long extension 60 depending on the width of thedoorway that is to be distorted in forcing a door open. As can bereadily seen, the short extension 80 can be installed and affixed to thepower actuator 12 in the same manner as the long extension 60 and theonly difference is that the overall length of the double ended powerdoor opener 54 is different.

Turning then to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of the doubleended power door opener 54 of FIG. 4. As can be seen, the double endedpower door opener 54 includes the extension push plate 70 at one end ofthe double ended power door opener 54 with the movable push plate 34 atthe other end with a known linear distance therebetween. As such, thatlinear distance can be changed by activating the power actuator 12 so asto move the actuator shaft 20 to extend outwardly or retract inwardlywith respect to the housing 14.

Accordingly, as will become clear, the double ended power door opener 54can be placed in a doorway between two vertical door jambs and with theactuator shaft 20 in the closed position. Upon activation of the poweractuator 12, the movable push plate 34 can be extended outwardly toincreases the linear distance between the extension push plate 70 andthe movable push plate 34 to spread the door jamb to release the door tobe forced open.

That action is illustrated in FIG. 6, taken along with FIGS. 4 and 5,where the double ended power door opener 54 is shown in operativeposition intermediate opposed door jambs 82, 84. As can be seen, themovable push plate 34 is fitted against the door jamb 82 while the freeend of the long extension 60 is fitted against door jamb 84. In thisembodiment, a remote controller 86 is connected to the power actuator 12so that the user can be positioned away from the doorway when the dooris forced open. As such, the user can be protected by the walls thatsurround the door 88 and not be in the way of possible danger that maybe present within the room being entered.

Accordingly, by activating the power actuator 12, the door jambs 82, 84will be spread apart as the actuator shaft 20 moves from a closedposition to an extended position, thereby freeing the lock from itsconnection to a door jamb and allow the user to force the door open foraccess to the room.

While the present invention has been set forth in terms of a specificembodiment or embodiments, it will be understood that the present powerdoor opener herein disclosed may be modified or altered by those skilledin the art to other configurations. Accordingly, the invention is to bebroadly construed and limited only by the scope and spirit of the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A power door opener comprising a power actuatorhaving a housing with a actuator shaft movable between a closed positionand an extended position wherein the actuator shaft is extendedoutwardly from the housing and an electric motor adapted to move theactuator shaft between its closed and extended positions, a fixed pushplate immovably affixed to the power actuator, the fixed push platehaving a fixed tapered pry member extending outwardly therefrom, and amovable push plate affixed to the actuator shaft, the movable push platehaving a movable tapered pry member extending outwardly therefrom,wherein the fixed pry member and the movable pry member are aligned inclose proximity to form a common edge when the actuator shaft is in itsclosed position and the common edge tapers inwardly in the outerdirection so as to be forcible into a linear opening.
 2. The power dooropener as defined in claim 1 wherein the movable pry member isbifurcated forming an opening and the fixed pry member interfits intothe opening when the actuator shaft is in the closed position.
 3. Thepower door opener as defined in claim 1 wherein the movable push plateis affixed to the actuator shaft by means of a pin passing though theactuator shaft and the movable push plate.
 4. The power door opener asdefined in claim 1 wherein the electric motor is controlled by a remotecontroller.
 5. The power door opener as defined in claim 1 wherein thefixed push plate is a cylindrical member that surrounds the actuatorshaft and is affixed to the housing.
 6. The power door opener as definedin claim 5 wherein the fixed push plate is welded to the housing.
 7. Adouble ended power door opener comprising a power actuator having afront side and a rear side, a actuator shaft extendable from the frontside of the power actuator, the actuator shaft being movable between aclosed position and an extended position wherein the actuator shaft isextended outwardly and an electric motor adapted to move the actuatorshaft between its closed and extended positions, a movable push plateaffixed to the actuator shaft, an extension extending outwardly from therear side of the actuator, the extension having a distal end wherein thedistal end of the extension and movable push plate are moved apart bythe outwardly extending movement of the actuator shaft.
 8. The doubleended power door opener as defined in claim 7 wherein the extension isremovable affixed to the rear side of the power actuator.
 9. The doubleended power door opener as defined in claim 7 wherein the extension isselected from a plurality of extensions, each having a different length.10. The double ended power door opener as defined in claim 7 wherein theelectric motor is controlled by a remote controller.
 11. The doubleended power door opener as defined in claim 7 wherein the extension hasa distal end having a push plate located at the distal end.
 12. Thedouble ended power door opener as defined in claim 7 wherein the movablepush plate includes a pry member extending outwardly therefrom.
 13. Thedouble ended power door opener as defined in claim 12 wherein themovable push plate is removably affixed to the actuator shaft.
 14. Amethod of forcing open a door by separating a door from a door jambcomprising the steps of: providing a power actuator having a actuatorshaft movable between a closed position and an extended position whereinthe actuator shaft is extended outwardly and an electric motor adaptedto move the actuator shaft between its closed and extended positions, afixed push plate immovably affixed to the actuator, the fixed push platehaving a fixed tapered pry member extending outwardly therefrom, and amovable push plate affixed to the actuator shaft, the movable push platehaving a movable tapered pry member extending outwardly therefrom,aligning the fixed tapered pry member and the movable tapered pry memberto form a common edge; inserting the common edge of the fixed andtapered push plates into an opening between a door and a door jamb; andmoving the actuator shaft to its extended position to move the movablepush plate away from the fixed push plate, thereby widening the openingbetween the door and the door jamb to release the door from the doorjamb.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of activating theactuator shaft comprises applying electrical power to the electricmotor.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the fixed pry member or themovable pry member is bifurcated, having two prongs, and the step ofaligning the fixed tapered pry member and the movable tapered pry membercomprises locating the movable or fixed pry member within with theopening between the bifurcated prongs.
 17. The method of claim 16wherein the step of aligning the fixed tapered pry member and themovable tapered pry member comprises locating the fixed pry memberwithin the opening in the movable pry member.
 18. A method of forcingopen a door by separating opposite vertical door jambs comprising thesteps of: providing a double ended power door opener comprising a poweractuator having a front side and a rear side, an actuator shaft locatedat the front side being movable between a closed position and anextended position wherein the actuator shaft is extended outwardly andan electric motor adapted to move the actuator shaft between its closedand extended positions, a movable push plate affixed to the actuatorshaft, an extension extending outwardly from the rear side of theactuator, the extension having a distal end, positioning the doubleended power door opening between opposite door jambs with the extensioncontacting one door jamb and the movable push plate contacting the otherdoor jamb, and moving the actuator shaft to its extended position tomove the movable push plate away from the fixed push plate, therebywidening the opening between the door and the door jamb to release thedoor from the door jamb.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step ofproviding a double ended power door opener comprises providing at leasttwo extensions and further including the steps of selecting oneextension from the at least two extensions and attaching the selectedextension to the rear side of the power actuator.
 20. The method ofclaim 17 wherein the step of moving the actuator shaft comprises using aremote controller to activate the electric motor.